Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Author's name is provided in the book as V.T. Thomas (Toms). Toms is his pen name under which he usually publishes. And he's mostly known by that pen name.

So, do I have to add both names while adding the book? If so, which name should I use as the primary author?

Can you link to the book so we can look at it?

Scott wrote: "Can you link to the book so we can look at it?"

Book is yet to be added.

I meant...somewhere else?
I saw one of his on Amazon, but it was not even in English.

Scott wrote: "I meant...somewhere else?
I saw one of his on Amazon, but it was not even in English."

He's a Malayalam cartoonist. Here is the link to the book from the website of an online bookseller.

Oh...that's the same thing I found.
Can you add the name in Malayalam, since that's how the books read?

Ok. Thanks for the info, Scott. :)

Please note that is not a site we can use for book data, including covers.

rivka wrote: "Please note that is not a site we can use for book data, including covers."

May I know why? They're a reputed publisher + seller in Malayalam.

Are they a bookseller, or the publisher?

rivka wrote: "Are they a bookseller, or the publisher?"
They're both. They have published quite a lot of books in Malayalam. Also, they sell books from other publishers too. And they're the publishing company of the Malayalam newspaper Mathrubhumi.

rivka wrote: "Please note that is not a site we can use for book data, including covers."
I've a suggestion to improve the list of acceptable sources mentioned in the manual. As of now, Malayalam doesn't have any sources mentioned there.

If you're willing to add to list, I could provide you with names of some of the reputed publishing houses in Malayalam:

1. DC Books
2. Mathrubhumi Books
3. Manorama Books

Joseph wrote: "Also, they sell books from other publishers too."

That would be a problem. Is this a book they published, or just that they sell?

rivka wrote: "Joseph wrote: "Also, they sell books from other publishers too."

That would be a problem. Is this a book they published, or just that they sell?"
It's a book they sell. Since I own a copy, I uploaded a scan of the cover.

Joseph wrote: "Since I own a copy, I uploaded a scan of the cover.
"

Because you own a copy, we can use information included in the copy you own without using the bookseller information. You can upload your scanned copy of the cover and use it.

Your original question was about the author name. If he always published as Tom, then that is the name you need to use in primary position. Are his books ever published in English or are they always in Malayam (sorry, I don't know the proper term for the language).

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "If he always published as Tom"

I don't know whether he has published under the name Tom. His pen name was Toms.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Are his books ever published in English or are they always in Malayam"

FYI, it's Malayalam, not Malayam. You can just Google to know about the language. He always published in Malayalam. Some of his comics were translated to English, but I don't know whether any of this books were translated.

Joseph wrote: "You can just Google to know about the language. He always published in Malayalam. Some of his comics were translated to English, but I don't know whether any of this books were translated."

Yes, I could have googled ... or just skipped trying to answer your question. The reason I asked is because it matters how you enter the name, which is what I thought you wanted to know.

If his name was always in Malayalam (thank you) then you need to enter the name in that language and not in English. It should be entered just like it is on the cover. Because I cannot write Malayalam, I cannot show you how to enter it. It would not be Toms. Since you have the cover already scanned, you have everything you need to add the book to the GR database.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Joseph wrote: "You can just Google to know about the language. He always published in Malayalam. Some of his comics were translated to English, but I don't know whether any of this books were trans..."

Already did, Thanks.

Then it would have been polite to let us know so our time could be used for other pursuits.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Then it would have been polite to let us know so our time could be used for other pursuits."

You could have read my message 14. :) Also Scott and Rivka already provided me with answers. :)

I did read your message 14, which said nothing about adding the book to the database. Your question was about how to enter the name. Scott and Rivka wouldn't allow you to use the bookseller's information. I thought it important for you to know you didn't need to use the bookseller's information. I'm sorry I seem to have bothered you trying to help you get the book entered in the database.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I did read your message 14, which said nothing about adding the book to the database. "

The book wasn't added to the GR database when I asked the question. After I got an answer from Scott, I added the book. And I clearly mentioned I used a scan for the cover in the message 14 (which also implies the book has been added to the database). Anyhow, thanks again and sorry for the confusion.

Joseph wrote: "And I clearly mentioned I used a scan for the cover in the message 14 (which also implies the book has been added to the database)."

In msg #14, you wrote "Since I own a copy, I uploaded a scan of the cover."

People often upload a cover scan to the photos on their user profile, where a librarian can grab it when they add the book. That is how I read your comment.

Anyway, glad the issue has been resolved :)

lethe wrote: "People often upload a cover scan to the photos on their user profile"
I never knew there is such an option. So users can simply upload a cover even if that book is not available on GR database? How does that work?

You can upload photos through this link: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/new

But please feel free to continue to add Malayalam books to the database yourself :)

lethe wrote: "You can upload photos through this link: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/new"

Thanks for the link. :)

lethe wrote: "But please feel free to continue to add Malayalam books to the database yourself :)"

Sure, I will. Existing Malayalam books in the database need many corrections. I've been compiling some here. Since there are no active Malayalam librarians in the group, everything is pending since 2019!